Recalled nuts taken off shelves in Feb.

Mave Enterprises, Inc., of Los Angeles, has voluntarily recalled all pistachios sold under the It’s Delish label due to a potential salmonella contamination. The product was sold to West Coast retail stores between Sept. 1, 2008 and April 13, 2009, including the Mercer Island Albertsons. However, according to store manager John Gillespie, Albertsons has not stocked It’s Delish pistachios since February.

By Elizabeth Celms • April 28, 2009 3:38 pm

Mave Enterprises, Inc., of Los Angeles, has voluntarily recalled all pistachios sold under the It’s Delish label due to a potential salmonella contamination. The product was sold to West Coast retail stores between Sept. 1, 2008 and April 13, 2009, including the Mercer Island Albertsons. However, according to store manager John Gillespie, Albertsons has not stocked It’s Delish pistachios since February.

“We do carry It’s Delish, but we haven’t had any of their pistachios for months,” Gillespie said.

He added that the store did carry the product before February. Therefore, if any Albertsons shoppers have It’s Delish pistachios at home, they are advised not to eat the nuts and to return the product, which comes in 10-ounce, 7-ounce and 3.5-ounce bags, to Albertsons. The store will fully refund any returns.

Mercer Island’s QFC, Walgreens and Rite Aid reported that they did not carry any It’s Delish products.

According to the QFC Web site, the store has pulled the following pistachio products from its shelf since March: “Back to Nature Pistachio Cashew and Almond Mix,” “Back to Nature Nantucket Blend,” “Powers Snack Time Pistachios” and “Sahale Snacks Ksar Nut Blend.”

Managers from Rite Aid and Walgreens said that they have also pulled all pistachio products from their shelves in response to recalls.

Mave Enterprises is one of several companies nationwide to recall its pistachios after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed that equipment at Pistachio Co.’s Setton plant had tested positive for salmonella. Over 2 million pounds of Setton pistachios, the second largest pistachio producer in the country, have thus far been recalled.

No illnesses caused by It’s Delish pistachios have been reported.

Salmonella is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, elderly people and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstance, it can produce more severe illnesses such as arterial infections, endocarditis and arthritis.